Anti-Aging Acne Treatment

In the majority of people, acne clears by the time they're in their early to mid-20s. But some people continue to get eruptions and lesions well into their 30s and 40s. Fortunately, there's a prescription topical medication that not only can conquer acne, but also can help erase fine wrinkles and make age spots less noticeable. This medication, tretinoin, probably is best-known by the brand names Retin-A and Renova.

Significance

Tretinoin is a natural derivative of vitamin A, and is available in the United States as either a gel or a cream under the brand names Atralin, Avita, Refissa, Renova, Retin-A, Retin-A Micro and Tretin-X. Tretinoin was the first derivative of vitamin A to get U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to treat acne, and most of the brand-name formulations of tretinoin are marketed to treat acne. However, Renova, made by OrthoNeutrogena, is FDA-approved to treat the effects of photoaging, or sun damage that causes aging of the skin.

Function

Tretinoin works in acne by gradually unclogging pores, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It can be very effective, dermatologists say. For example, a 2009 study published in the "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology" compared tretinoin to another prescription medication, tazarotene cream. It found tretinoin reduced acne lesions by 64 percent in 1 month, compared to a 19 percent reduction in lesions in the tazarotene group.

Effects

In anti-aging treatment, tretinoin reduces fine wrinkles, dark age spots and roughened skin caused by the sun's rays, according to the Mayo Clinic. To treat photoaging, tretinoin speeds the replacement of older skin cells with fresh skin cells, and it also bleaches the skin to provide a more even tone. Tretinoin works well as an anti-aging treatment. For example, a 1995 study in the "Archives of Dermatology" examined 67 patients who used tretinoin over 48 weeks, and found significant improvement in measures of photoaging. However, Mayo Clinic dermatologists warn that tretinoin doesn't stop the aging process, nor does it eliminate deep wrinkles.

Time Frame

When used for acne, photoaging or both, tretinoin takes some time to work. For acne, physicians generally prescribe several months' worth of medication at one time and evaluates results once the patient completes that course of treatment. Clearing of most or all acne lesions generally takes about 12 weeks or more, according to the Mayo Clinic. For photoaging, patients generally see clear results within a month or two, but will need to continue using tretinoin to maintain its effects.

Considerations

Newer formulations of tretinoin cause less skin irritation than older versions of the drug, but patients still report side effects, including dry skin, itching and burning, redness and scaling, according to the Mayo Clinic. Patients using tretinoin on their skin also must be particularly careful about sun exposure, because the prescription medication makes the treated skin very susceptible to sunburn, especially in the first few weeks of treatment. Physicians warn patients to always wear a sunblock with 15 SPF or higher when they venture into the sun.